Hallmark Health System is affiliated with the Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization.

The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Hallmark Health System, led by Sunita Schurgin, MD offers the latest advances for treating diabetes and its complications as well as patient education and support services. Hallmark Health is one of 47 national and two international Affiliate locations and the only Joslin Affiliate in Boston's northern suburbs.

The Center at Hallmark Health System offers advanced clinical care for the treatment of diabetes for patients age 18 and older, as well as patient education and support services. These include diabetes screening, comprehensive diabetes care and management, weight management and nutrition counseling. Along with expert diabetes care, these physicians will continue to provide treatment for a wide variety of other endocrinology diagnoses.

What sets us apart

Our Center is a hospital-based program that will work with a persons' needs and respond to those needs with compassion, caring and knowledgeable decisions. Unlike other hospital programs in the area, our Center gives you access to full-time, board-certified employed physicians and access to certified diabetes nurse educators and nutritional support services. We also offer a goal-oriented self-management and treatment program. All of which is supported by the full depth of services offered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

Our Center is dedicated to helping adult patients with:

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

Gestational diabetes

Thyroid diseases

Osteoporosis

Other endocrine disorders

The overall goal is to help people with diabetes have a better quality of life by preventing any complications that often arise from diabetes including: early stage heart disease and strokes, blindness or greatly reduced vision, kidney failure and loss of nerve sensations that can interfere with mobility and loss limbs.

Diabetes self management program

Did you know that diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US and that 22 million people have diabetes? The sad truth is 11 million people don’t know it!

The good news is, when it comes to diabetes, knowledge really is power! The power to live life your way starts with good diabetes control. Taking control of diabetes is the key to improving your quality of life.

Keeping your blood sugar (also called blood glucose) levels in the normal range can make a big difference now and in the future. In the short run, you will feel better, stay healthy and have more energy. And in the long run you will lower your chances of having diabetes related problems such as eye disease, kidney disease and nerve damage. Ultimately, you will enjoy a better quality life.

We offer an outstanding diabetes education program that has been nationally recognized by the American Diabetes Association for its excellence in patient teaching methods! Our program teaches you how to manage your diabetes with immediate results that will lower your blood sugar and help you achieve long-term results. We offer outpatient programs at both campuses of Hallmark Health: the Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, as well as other programs and services in the community.

A comprehensive approach

There are many steps you can take to control your diabetes for life. Our action plan helps get your blood sugar under control through diet and exercise and making healthy lifestyle choices. We work with our patients and their doctors to address all aspects of diabetes management, from lifestyle and emotional issues to medical treatments and long-term health concerns.

We provide a variety of treatments and services, including:

Consultation and treatment with board-certified endocrinologists

A nationally recognized American Diabetes Association (ADA) diabetes education program

Our services

Our Center helps adults 18 and over who have been diagnosed by their primary care physicians with Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes. We respond very quickly to any woman diagnosed with gestational diabetes, usually within 24 hours. We work together, as a team, with you, your family and your primary care physician to help build the most up to date medical and nutritional treatment plan for you and provide you with the information and resources you need to control your diabetes. The services we offer include:

Diabetes nutrition management

Blood sugar testing and monitoring

Exercise instruction and guidance

Medication review and education

Insulin administration

Travel and sick day planning and adjustments

Insulin pump instruction, management and assistance

Morning and evening educational classes

Gestational diabetes nutrition and insulin teaching

Our physicians and staff

How to make referrals

Primary care providers may refer patients to the Center for any combination of services they desire. A referral request should be made to the patient's insurance carrier. Please refer to contact information below to make a referral.

Educational Classes and Support Groups

• Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, 585 Lebanon St., Melrose on the first three Tuesdays of each month from 10 a.m. - Noon and 5 - 6:45 p.m.

Diabetes Support Group

The Joslin Diabetes Center Affiliate at Hallmark Health System provides a support group to people living with diabetes to help them and their loved ones better cope with the daily challenges of managing their disease. People with diabetes and their families are encouraged to attend a meeting to discuss and share their concerns with a Joslin affiliate healthcare provider and each other.

Joslin Diabetes Affiliate at Lawrence Memorial Hospital

Johnson Conference Room, 1st floor

170 Governors Ave., Medford

Call (781) 338-7759 to confirm group schedule and location. Registration is not required.

Insurance Information

To join the Diabetes Self Management Program; you must be referred by your primary care physician. For more information regarding coverage, please call your health insurance company prior to your first visit.

Scheduling

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please contact us.